DUTCH DESIGN WEEK 2009
PRAGUE DESIGN DAYS 2009
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2009
GIZMODO GALLERY 2009
EUROBIKE 2009
MAKER FAIRE AFRICA
NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR
ISTANBUL DESIGN WEEKEND 2009
BAUHAUS SUMMER SCHOOL 2009
Well folks, the DVD format wars are over--Blu-Ray won--and you may have noticed your life is not significantly different in any way. Sure, some of you might have some expensive HD DVD coasters, but chances are if you're old enough to remember something called BetaMax you probably knew better than to shell out for a dedicated machine.
Why is this interesting? Because it may serve as a reminder that sometimes people who aren't even on the design brief have a say. Consumers, the actual end-users, held little sway in this battle; companies other than those originating the competing technologies had a big say. Best Buy and Netflix helped pick out a coffin for HD DVD, while giant Wal-Mart nailed it shut, lowered it into the hole and threw dirt on it.
Kinda reminds us of how California is just one of fifty American states, but with its tough emissions laws, world-famous car culture and economic might--it is the sixth largest economy in the world--that 163,000-square-mile boomerang can influence auto design from Tokyo to Turin, not to mention Detroit.
We guess the big difference here is that cars are not going away anytime soon--it can be argued there are real wars going on right now to hold onto oil, for Pete's sake--but DVDs?
Uh--anyone remember these?
Stay tuned for our post on the venerable cassette tape.
Dutch Design Week
Prague Design Days
1 Hour Design Challenge Winners!
Coroflot Salary Survey Results
Comments
It seems companies just want to keep shelling out crap because god forbid that the consumer stops buying things, the economy would die right? I don't pretend to be an expert on such things but I can't help but think there is something fishy going on. The radial tire was available to the consumer years after it was already proven to work, so why did "The Man"(School of Rock) shelf the radial tire for so long while consumers where forced to replace their tires more than what�s was necessary? Is innovation at the mercy of economic greed? Granted I realize the world revolves around money and that it is a necessary element but do we have to keep using the same old �Broom�? How is it that we can make the most technological weapons of mass destruction at such an alarming rate yet going to the emergency room still sucks, the DMV is a nightmare and companies are still battling over something as meaningless as DVD�s? Yes everyone wants to make a profit but there has to be a better system, so let�s treat the system like we treat a design problem, it�s not as cool, techy or romantic as the next I-Pod, but there is a lot more to be gained.